Alcohol consumers show strong variations in demographic characteristics, alcohol intake, frequency, duration and profile of
consumption. Individuals consuming up to two drinks per day (men) or one drink per day (women) are defined as moderate drinkers
and do not have an increased risk compared to abstainers. Conversely, a high-risk pattern, defined as daily consumption above
those limits, or binge drinking episodes, cause health, personal and social problems. This definition separates chronic drinkers
from binge drinkers, as their drinking patterns are different. Binge drinking implies “drinking too much too fast”. Periods
of binge drinking (several consecutive days, weeks or months) are typically followed by periods of abstinence or, in some
cases, significantly lower levels of consumption.1 The threshold of alcohol intake per episode which is used to define binge drinking varies from one study to another. In order
to propose a consensual definition, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (Bethesda, Maryland, USA) defines
binge drinking episodes as consumption of five or more drinks (male) or four or more drinks (female) in the space of about
2 h.2 This definition is not clear-cut. It does not consider the amount of alcohol intake in one binge episode, nor the possibility
that some individuals may go on several binges during the same day. Moreover, the behaviour of some binge drinkers may overlap
that of chronic drinkers, with several binges over several consecutive days. The latter issue has been partially addressed
by previous studies showing that repetition of binge episodes during adolescence constitutes a risk factor for being a chronic
drinker during adulthood.

A considerable increase in binge drinking is currently being seen in Western countries. This tendency appears to be more striking
in beer- and spirit-drinking cultures in the UK and northern Europe.3 Young people seem particularly prone to …